ROAD TEST

INTERIORF: H E A D > 38.4 in L EG > 43.2 in SHOU L DE R > 51.5 in SA E VOLU M E > F: 48 cu ft C A RGO > 11 cu ft

R EST R A I N T SYST E M S > F: 3-point belts; driver and passenger front, side, and curtain airbagsSE AT A DJ UST M E N TS > F: fore-and-aft, seatback angle, front height, rear height, 4-way lumbar support, torso and thigh bolsters

C H A S S I S

C H A SSI S T Y PE > unit construction BODY M AT E R I A L > welded steel and aluminum stampings

STEERINGRack-and-pinion with variable ratio and hydraulic power assistR AT IO > 17.1:1–13.8:1 T U R NS L T LOC K > 2.6T U R N I NG C I RC L E C U R B T B > 35.8 ft

SUSPENSIONF: ind, strut located by a control arm, coil springs, 2-position cockpit-adjustable shock absorbers, anti-roll barR: ind; 1 trailing link, 2 lateral links, 1 diagonal link, and 1 toe-control link per side; coil springs; 2-position cockpit-adjustable shock absorbers; anti-roll bar

BRAKESHydraulic with vacuum power assist and anti-lock control F: 15.0 x 1.3-in vented, cross-drilled discR: 13.8 x 1.1-in vented, cross-drilled discSTA BI L I T Y CON T ROL > fully defeatable

WHEELS AND TIRESW H E E L SI Z E/T Y PE > F: 8.5 x 19 in R: 12.0 x 19 in/forged aluminumT I R ES > Michelin Pilot Sport Cup + F: 235/35ZR-19 (87Y) N1 R: 305/30ZR-19 (102Y) N1SPA R E > none

PRICE A S T EST E D > $130,265 BA SE> $114,450

V E H IC L E T Y PE > rear-engine, rear-wheel-drive, 2-passenger, 2-door coupeOPT IONS > front-axle lifting system, $3490; Navigation package, $3110; adaptive sport seats, $2295; dynamic engine mounts, $1300; XM satellite radio, $750; metallic paint, $710; Sound Package Plus (includes upgraded stereo and CD storage), $700; Bluetooth interface, $695; dynamic cornering lights, $690; Sport Chrono Plus package (includes dash chronometer, sport exhaust button, and personalization features), $690; auto-dimming mirrors and rain sensor, $690; heated seats, $510; iPod, auxiliary, and USB connections, $95; floor mats, $90STA N DA R D > power windows, seats, and locks; remote locking; cruise control; tilting and telescoping steering wheelAU DIO SYST E M > AM, FM, XM radio; CD player; minijack and USB inputs; iPod connector; 9 speakers

E N G I N E

Flat-6, aluminum block and headsBOR E X ST ROK E > 4.04 x 3.01 in, 102.7 x 76.4 mmDI SPL AC E M E N T > 232 cu in, 3797 ccCOM PR E SSION R AT IO > 12.0:1F U E L L I V E RY SYST E M > port injectionVA LV E G E A R > chain-driven double overhead cams, 4 valves per cylinder, hydraulic lifters, variable intake- and exhaust-valve timing R E DL I N E > 8400 rpm

POW E N ET 435 bhp @ 7600 rpm TORQU E N ET 317 lb-ft @ 6250 rpm

D R I V E T R A I N

T R A NSM I SSION > 6-speed manualF I NA L I V E R AT IO > 3.44:1, limited slip

GE A R RATIO MPH PER MAX SPEED 1000 RPM IN GEAR RPM1 3.82 5.8 49 mph (8400)2 2.26 9.8 82 mph (8400) 3 1.64 13.5 113 mph (8400) 4 1.29 17.1 144 mph (8400) 5 1.06 20.8 175 mph (8400) 6 0.92 24.0 194 mph (8100)

D I M E N S I O N S

EXTERIORW H E E L BA SE > 92.7 in L E NGT H > 175.6 inW I DT H > 71.2 in H E IG H T > 50.4 inF RON T T R AC K > 58.9 inR E A R T R AC K > 60.0 inDR AG A R E A > Cd (0.32) x frontal area (21.7 sq ft) = 6.9 sq ftG ROU N D C L E A R A NC E > 3.8–5.0 in

WEIGHTC U R B > 3280 lb PE R HOR SE POW E R > 7.5 lbDI ST R I BU T ION > F: 39.0% R: 61.0%TOW I NG C A PAC I T Y > 0 lbG V W R > 3900 lb

PORSCHE 911 GT3

C O M P E T I TO R S

C / D T E S T R E S U LT S

S P EC I F I CAT I O N S

40 80 120 160

140 150 160 170 0.85 0.90 0.95 1.00

2 6 10 14

ACC E L E RAT I O NZ E R O T O 3 0 M P H > 1.4 sec 4 0 M P H > 2.0 50 M P H > 3.0 60 M PH > 3.8 7 0 M P H > 4.7 8 0 M P H > 5.7 9 0 M P H > 7.4 100 M P H > 8.8 1 10 M P H > 10.3 120 M P H > 12.6 130 M P H > 14.7 140 M P H > 17.2ST R E E T STA RT, M P H > 4.8 secTOP G E A R , 3 0 50 M P H > 7.1 secTOP G E A R , 50 70 M P H > 7.1 sec

M I L E > 12.1 sec @ 118 mphTOP S LTD, MFR’S CLAI 194 mph

HANDLINGROA DHOL DI NG ,

T DI A SK I DPA D > U N DE R ST E E R > minimal

BRAKING 70 TO 0 M PH > 145 ft

FUELC A PAC I T Y > 17.7 gal R ECOM M E N DE D F U E L > 93 octaneE PA C I T Y > 14 mpg E PA H W Y > 21 mpgC/D OBSE RV E D > 16 mpg

INTERIOR SOUND LEVEL (dBA)I DL E > 60 F U L L T H ROT T L E > 91

H C RU I S I NG > 77

WEATHER T E M P E R AT U R E > 73˚F H U M I DI T Y > 25%B A ROM E T R IC PR E S S U R E > 27.25 in Hg

ODOMETER T E ST V E H IC L E M I L E AG E > 151

TIRE INFLATION T E ST PR E S S U R E S > F: 28 psi R: 31 psi

TEST NOTESOn a car with fewer than 200 miles, the shifter is pretty sticky. Missed third gear a few times, causing a number of re-dos. Still, if the engine is “tight,” there’s no evidence in the test numbers.

0.94 g

PORSCHE 911 GT3 (3.8-LITER, 435 HP, 6-SP MAN) • ASTON MARTIN VANTAGE V-8 (4.7-LITER, 420 HP, 6-SP AUTO MAN) • AUDI R8 5.2 FSI QUATTRO (5.2-LITER, 525 HP, 6-SP AUTO MAN) • LOTUS EXIGE S 260 SPORT (1.8-LITER, 257 HP, 6-SP MAN)

*Base price includes freight, any performance options, and applicable gas-guzzler tax.CURRENT BASE PRICE* dollars x 1000

LOTUSPORSCHEASTON MARTINAUDI

ACCELERATION 0–60 & 1/4-mile, seconds

AUDIPORSCHEASTON MARTINLOTUS

BRAKING 70–0 mph, feet

PORSCHEAUDILOTUSASTON MARTIN

ROADHOLDING 200/300-foot skidpad, g

LOTUSAUDIPORSCHEASTON MARTIN

96 M A Y 2 0 1 0 C A R A N D D R I V E R . C O M

CD0510_911gt3.indd 96 3/3/10 5:06:12 PM